Pope Paul VI declared today that the new Secretariat for Non-Christians, which will operate outside the framework of the Ecumenical Council, was created in an atmosphere of union and understanding “which has clearly characterized the Council.”
The Pontiff made his remarks in a discussion of the work of Ecumenical Councils, past and present, to Cardinals of the Roman Curia who had delivered a message of congratulation to him on the occasion of the Feast of John the Baptist, the Pope’s name-saint.
With this “and similar initiatives,” the Pope said, “we wanted to show clearly that the Church not only intensifies its inner links but searches also outside dialogue and meeting with all men of good will.” Commenting on his visit to Israel last January, he said the trip was a concrete reply to the common desire of friendship based on the most humane reasons.
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